Volunteer Airmen lend hammers to community Published Oct. 6, 2006 By By Capt. Nathan Creech 334th Fighter Squadron SEYMOUR JOHNSON AIR FORCE BASE, N.C. -- The fiscal year brought about an end to flying, but that didn't keep the 334th Fighting Eagles grounded. They spent a sunny day at the end of September on the rooftops of a Habitat for Humanity site in a small Goldsboro neighborhood. Cutting, hanging, hammering and painting, the Eagles worked together to help finish off four separate projects. "These guys did an awesome job. We got more work done today than we do on Saturdays" Bill Edgerton noted, stating that most volunteers come out to help on Saturday. Bill Edgerton is one of the main supervisors for Goldsboro's Habitat for Humanity. As a class service project organized by the Eagle's B-Course, it was a way to thank the community for their support of Seymour Johnson. "It was an awesome experience and I was proud to help the community," said Capt. Matthew Thrift, "It's great to be able to take out a team of warriors and build a project that will really make a difference in someone's life." In all, about 170 hours of labor were added into the Habitat projects which included interior finish and painting of two houses and the construction of two storage sheds. Habitat for Humanity Inter-national is a nonprofit, ecumenical Christian housing ministry seeking to eliminate poverty housing and homelessness from the world. "Our goal is to help lift low income families into the middle class by giving them a good place to live" stated Chris, a local Habitat volunteer. According to www.habitat.org, volunteer labor and donations of money and materials allow Habitat for Humanity to build and rehabilitates simple, decent houses with the help of the homeowner families. The Habitat for Humanity of Goldsboro works on Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday from about 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Volunteers are encouraged to show up for all or part of the day. "Every hour that a volunteer puts in is an hour that someone else doesn't have to do" said Mr. Edgerton. To volunteer, no building experience is required and training is provided on site. In addition to helping the community, volunteers are able to gain practical experience on actual home improvement projects. For more information on how Habitat for Humanity International affects your community, please visit http://www.habitat.org. If you are interested in volunteering for Habitat or creating a squadron service project of your own, please contact Bill Edgerton at 919-736-9592 or 919-920-8541.